Crimson Publishers Research Article Wings to the Research Histopathological Analysis of Cerebellum Layers in Rats Treated With Extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina: Neuroprotective Functions Utibe Udonwa1*, Olaitan R Asuquo1, Marvin Okon2 and Thomas I Nathaniel3 1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria 2 ISSN: 2637-7802 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowow University Ile-Ife, Nigeria 3University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, USA Abstract Herbal medicine provides neuroprotective functions for different brain disorders, and Trichosanthes cucumerina leaf extracts may provide neuroprotective function on the cerebellum. Evaluation of the neuroprotective potential of Trichosanthes cucumerina methanolic extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina (TC) on the cerebellum is carried out. A total of thirty-two (32) adult rats with an average weight of 200g are being used to determine the effect of leaf on the cerebellum for a period of twenty-eight (28) days. The rats are divided into 4 groups (A-D) with eight rats Trichosanthesin each group. cucumerinaGroup A animals leaf respectively.receive feed and distilled water and serve as control. The animals in group B, C and group D receive 200mg/kgBW, *Corresponding author: Utibe Udonwa, 400mg/kgBW and 600mg/kgBW of methanolic extract of Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic are24hours passed after through the last several administration stages of tissue of the processing leaf extract, which the comprises animals aredehydration, sacrificed wax using impregnation, chloroform Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, inhalation method. The cerebellum is harvested and fixed in 10% formalin. After fixation, the animals Nigeria employed for the histological demonstration of the cerebellum. Microscopy and histochemical data of methanolicembedding andextract sectioning. of T. cucumerina The sections leaf areshow taken no adverse at 5µ and histopathological haematoxylin and change eosin in staining cerebellum method of all is Submission: treated groups of rats as they retain their normal cytoarchitecture when compared to the control group. Published: March 13, 2020 The presence of biologically active phytochemicals including Cucurbitacin in Trichosanthes cucumerina April 07, 2020 may provide neuroprotective functions especially since the dosage given in the different treatments probably crossed the blood brain barrier and did not produce any pathological effect. Volume 6 - Issue 2 Keywords: Cerebellum; Histopathology; Neuroprotection; Trichosanthes cucumerina; Rats How to cite this article: Ming C Liau, John P Fruehauf. It Has Been Half a Century Since President Nixon Declared War on Cancer: Introduction Destabilization of Abnormal Methylation Enzymes Has the Blessing of the Nature to The need for man to survive has led him to discover many plants that are of medicinal Win the War on Cancer. Adv Complement value even before the advent of orthodox medicine. Plant-based medicines have been man’s DOI: 31 of treating diverse pathological conditions [1]. Herbal medicine involves the use of whole Alt Med. 6(2). ACAM.000631.2020. prime therapeutic weapons from ancient times and are still in the uttermost significant form [email protected]/ACAM.2020.06.0006 Ming C Liau. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative or treat illness [2]. Herbal medicine has been reported safe and without any adverse effect plants or part of plants such as seeds, berries, leaves, roots, barks and flowers to prevent especially when compared with synthetic drugs [3]. Therefore, a search for new drugs with License, which permits unrestricted use better and cheaper substitutes from plant origin is a natural choice [4]. Herbal medicine andCommons redistribution Attribution provided 4.0 International that the original author and source are credited. are regarded by the public and some health care providers to be safe, even though there is no requires testing for its efficacy and effectiveness since they do carry minor risks [5] but they scientificTrichosanthes basis for cucumerinathis belief [6]. Linn. is one of the numerous herbs that are of high medicinal value [7]. It is an annual, dioecious climber belonging to the family cucurbitaceae found in the wild across much of South and Southeast Asia, and Southern China, Northern Australia and naturalized in Florida, parts of Africa including Nigeria and on various islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans [8]. The soft-skinned immature fruit can reach up to 150cm (59in) in length and its soft, bland, somewhat mucilaginous flesh is similar to that of the luffa and the calabash [9]. It is popular in the cuisines of South Asia and grown in some home gardens Trichosanthes cucumerina Lycopersicon in Africa with the fruit usually consumed as a vegetable due to its good nutritional value [10]. L, is utilized as a substitute to the solanaceous tomato ( Advances in Complementary & Alternative Medicine 540 ACAM.000631. 6(2).2020 541 esculentum Trichosanthes cucumerina red endocarp pulp when fully ripe, the fruit pulp does not go is collected from Ndiya farm of Nsit Ubium local government Area (L.) Mill.) due to its sweet tasting, aromatic, and deep leaves (Figure 1) used for this study sour as quickly as paste gotten from l. esculentum [11]. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of natural antioxidants for the human the curator of Department of Botany Herbarium, University of of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It is identified and authenticated by provide protection against harmful free radicals and have been the Department Herbarium. The leaves are harvested manually, diet, containing many different antioxidan0t components which Calabar, and a voucher specimen number (TS#10) is deposited at strongly associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases such washed, dried under shade for four weeks under ambient as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, cataracts and age-related functional decline in addition to other powder, packed into airtight containers. temperature of 30°-40 °C and is thereafter grounded into fine The preparation of methanolic extract of Trichosanthes in neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s disease has been health benefits [8-11]. Because if the antioxidant property, its role cucumerina is carried out at the Department of Chemistry Research proposed [7,12,13]. It reduces the stress in the brain, calms the Laboratory, University of Calabar, using methanolic solvents for treat neurological diseases [12]. nervous system and can be used to target specific brain areas to duration of 72 hours. Forty grams (40g) of the powdered leaf is The cerebellum is the region of the brain that plays an important Trichosanthes cucumerina leaf is boiled in distilled water for being soaked in 100ml of methanol and each part of the grounded role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear 15minutes, filtered and then cooled with muslin cloth after which and pleasure responses but its movement related functions are the the filtrate is concentrated using the rotary evaporator. The solvent is then removed by pouring the filtrate into an evaporating dish movement, rather it contributes to coordination, precision, and most solidly established [14-16]. The cerebellum does not initiate and placed in a water bath at 80 °C at reduced pressure of about accurate timing. Cerebellar injures have been reported to result from 70%HHmg. The extract is collected and stored in a dry glass toxins, auto antibody and structural lesion [17]. Since there is little prepared in distilled water just before use to maintain its potency. container at a temperature of 0-4 °C. Fresh solution of the extract is information in the literature regarding the usage of Trichosanthes Experimental animals cucumerina in especially its effect on cerebellar neurons, the current study examines the effect of the extract from Trichosanthes Cages: Cages made from plastic rubbers with wire mesh covers cucumerina on the cerebellum using adult Wistar rats as models are used to house the rats. Feed is given in constructed cemented over a period of twenty-eight days. We tested the hypothesis of troughs to minimize spoilage and spillage; while water is provided extracts of Trichosanthes cucumerina leaf on the cerebellum for liberally. Cages are placed away from windows to avoid direct in plastic containers fitted with stainless steel nozzles and given function without visible pathology. To test this hypothesis, we sunlight on the animals. The rats are fed with grower’s mash from a period of twenty-eight (28) days will provide neuroprotective determine the histopathological effect of Trichosanthes cucumerina leaf extracts on the cerebellum of adult Wistar rats, by assessing Road, Calabar. Vital Feeds obtained from A.B Henshaw Stores at No. 53 Mount Zion the cytoarchitectural alterations on the cerebellum following Breeding of animals: administration of methanolic extract of Trichosanthes cucumerina Thirty-two (32) healthy adult female leaf on Wistar rats. The animals are procured from the animal house of Department of albino Wistar rats with average of 200g are used for the experiment. Material and Methods pharmacology University of Calabar and is housed in raised mesh bottom cages under standard animal house conditions and fed with Preparation and storage of extracts from Trichosanthes standard rat feed and water ad libitum after acclimatizing